The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-02
IRON and STEEL TRADE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DRCEM.
Der 81.
A Review Showing Surprising Re.
sults-The Activity Fairly Dis
trlbuted through the Year.

PHILADELPHIA, IA,, January Line
b1lleiin Of the American Iron and
Steel Association, published today,
! contained raview # the iron and
STEEL indnstfies of the United States
during the year ending yesterday,
which shows some surprising results
II says our iron snd steel industries
we're especially active during 1856, aud
this activity was fairly distributed
throughout the year. An Improve
ment IN tie condi ion Of most Of lhfse
industries had commenced in 1885,
AID when the new year opened and
the temporary di,cour agement pro-
duced by the Uonne!lsvile strike had
disappeared, the certainty Of a much
moe Ective year than 1885 had be.
come assured. Orders became more
abundant and, except in one or two
branches, they have continued to
bear q most favorable relation 70 our
producing capacity. Our production in
1885 Of pig iron, Bessemer steel and steel
rails, open heart steel, Structural iron
and Steel, and some oher products
hes accordingly been much larger
than in 1886, aud our production of
pig iron, Bsssemer steel, B,ssemer
steel rails and open hearth steel has
bsen much the largest in our history.
We estimate the production Il these
four leading products In 1885 to have
been as follows, compared with the
production 10 1885: Pig iron, 8 600, coo
groes tons, against 4,044,526 in 1885;
Bsssemer steel ingo's, 100000 gross
tons, agsins 1873, 4S0 in 1885; IBis.
semer steel rails, 1900, coo gross tons,
against 959.47l in 1886; and open
hearth steel, 200, 900 gross tens, against
1873 975 in 1885.
The figures for 1856 have been esti-
mated with care, and we believe will
bs fully verified by the offiCial returns
which We are now collecting ffom the
manufacturers.
They are marvellous in their nero
msgniu 5e, but mora marvellous still
in showing our progress as iron aud
steel producers in one year. Our pro.
ductiOa of iron ore In 1885 was about
10000 600 tons, and we imported
about 1,00O,0 900 tons, notwithstanding
the steady increase in the demand for
iron and steel during 1885, it is re-
matksble that prices advanced so
slightly. Such advances es was es.
tabiished came srIdus II, and in some
instances, ~ in case, Of bar iron,
Glowly to meet the increased cost of
production. The produces of nails
during the year actually declined,
although the consumption incrsas cd.
In this case the producing capacity OF
the country is much beyond lis wants.
After comparing prices, the review
proceeds: al; may be ga d of thu |
present prices for pig iron and stsel |
rails, that they have only recently |
been established, and that la the case |
OF steel rails, largs contracts for de-
livery in 1887 have been made at S34 |
and $35. Our imDorta.ions OF iron and |
steel during 1885 have been very |
heavy, aud much in excess OF the i'm |
portations Of 1885. In 1885 We inn
ported about 400 tons of pig iron,
about 1900 tons of cd iron,
over 100000 tors Of etsei
blooms and billets, nearly 250, 900 tons
Of tin plates, fully l25,0C0 tons of wirs
rods and about $4,000 tons Of STEEL
rails. Our total importations of iron
and steel in 1886 will amount to 1000.
300 tons. The stocks OF unsold pig
ron in this country Al the close of
1855 were prob ably no larger than at
The close of 1885, when they amounted
70 81, S85 gross tors, which was a
very small surplus when the pig iron
wants OF the country are considered.
During 1885 this country built over
'0A0 miles Of new railroad, against
1913 mites reported by Mr.. Poor for
1856. This great iDcrs ass in railroad
in 1888 contributed largely to
he improvement in cur iron and steel
which has been notics d.
Tie gsneral business Quito TX for 1887
) at his time very favorable, and fof
'ur iron and steel industries it is
specially 30. Railroad building prom.
ses to be even more sctiye in 1887
han in 1885, but none OF US know
What day or month may bring
Orth in the stock market, or in the
financial or tariff le9isla in OF Con-
ress or the condition of the country's
IOps. OF one thing we feel certain.
speaking generally, prices must stop
where they a:e, or we shall have au
nfux OF foreign iron ard steel in 1887,
8 we have rarely, II ever experienced.
We need not dwell on the conse-
uences which would b. sure 10 fol-
oW."